Vault



Patented Mar. 17, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE 1 Claim.

and rigidity so as to increase the life of the vault` and such cover is sealed in place upon the body to exclude water and moisture from without the vault.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a vault of this character, wherein the interior of the body has formed therein risers constituting supports for a coflin when placed within the body and also seat shelf-like parts, these being perforated so that drainage is permitted beneath the cofln in event that water gains entrance to the interior of the vault, the coiiin being supported elevated from these parts so that circulation may be had entirely about said coflin when within the vault.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a vault of this character, which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and efficient in service, strong, durable, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which discloses the preferred embodiment of the invention and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure l is a Vertical longitudinal sectional view through a vault constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional View on the line 3 3 of Figure l.

Figure 4 is a plan view partly in section of one of the shelf-like parts arranged interiorly of the vault.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the vault, preferably made of cast concrete or cementitious material, comprises a body A and a cover B, respectively. This body A includes a bottom IB, side walls II and end walls I2 while the cover B is in the form of a slab I3, it having in the under face thereofclose to the edges of the same a continuous groove or channel I4 to accommodate the upper edges of the side and end walls Il and I2 of the body A and these edges are held sealed within the channels or grooves through the medium of a sealing medium I5 so as to exclude moisture, air and water from without the vault to the interior thereof.

The body A and the cover B have embedded therein crossed reinforcements I6 to give strength and rigidity thereto.

Cast with the bottom and end walls of the body A are inwardly extending thickened portions or risers I'I and cast with the sides and bottom Ill of the body are spaced intermediate risers I8. The risers I1 have their upper edges grooved as at I1 and the intermediate risers I8 are centrally formed with longitudinally extending ribs I8'. The grooves I1 and the ribs I8 have seated therebetween shelf-like sections or parts 20 which are made from cast concrete having the crossed reinforcements 2 I. 'I'he slabs or sections 20 are of a lesser thickness than that of the depth of the grooves Il' or the height of the ribs I8', so that a casket will rest directly on the risers Il and the ribs I8'.

'I'he risers I8 next to the bottom I0 of the body A are formed with upwardly arched openings 22 while the shelf-like sections or parts 20 have the copper lined apertures 23 so that water and moisture can pass to the bottom of the body A below a cofn when resting upon the risers I'I and I8. In this position the cofn will be slightly elevated from the shelf-like sections or parts 20 so that water and moisture may descend through the apertures 23 beneath the said shelf-like sections or parts while the openings 22 in the risers I8 establish communication with the spaces between the risers.

The body A interiorly thereof close to the upper edges of the side walls II and the end walls I2 has provided the sockets 24 for accommodating a lowering device (not shown) to permit the convenient lowering of the vault in place within a grave or at the point of deposit therefor, the lowering device being engaged with the body A prior to the application of the cover to said body.

The cover carries a pair of hanger eyes 25 for the attachment of the lowering device therewith so that said cover B can be lowered into position onto the body A for the sealing of the latter after the placing of a coffin therein.

The body A and the cover B with the reinforcements I6 embedded therein will have maximum strength and durability and when the cover B is sealed upon the body A the vault is rendered liquid and air tight while within is assured proper drainage of moisture and water and removed from the point of rest of the coffin within the vault.

What is claimed is:

A reinforced concrete vault comprising a substantially rectangular body having its bottom and end Walls thickened to provide risers which project a distance from the bottom wall and which risers have their upper and outer corners grooved longitudinally, and intermediate risers cast between the bottom and side walls of the body and having central upstanding longitudinal ribs o f a height equalling the depth of the grooves in end risers, said intermediate risers having arched openings at their juncture with the bottom wall of the body to provide air passages and concrete slabs having series of spaced and reinforced openings therethrough designed to rest in the grooves and between the ribs of the respective end and intermediate risers and Which slabs are of a thickness less than the depth of the grooves and the height of the ribs of the respective risers to allow a casket to rest directly on the end risers and the ribs of the intermediate risers and to permit air circulating between the bottom of the body and the bottom of the casket.

JOSIAH H. ROBERTS. 

